Proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) decried various form of atrocities committed to Kashmiri Students, businessmen and employees at various part of the Northern Indian states in the post Pulwama terror attack of February 14, by a terror group called Jaish –e – Mohamade. A suicide bomber killed at least 40 CRPF personnel on the terror attackA release signed by secretary publicity, Roben Khuman stated that during the backlash following the terrorist attack, many Kashmiri students were expelled from educational institutions across 10 states in India. Many businessmen and traders had to abandon their work and flee towards home, it said. Since their very lives were at stake, they had to endure many threats in trying to reach Kashmir, it added. Above all, many person including women were arrested and put to jail for giving their opinions on social media about the Pulwama incident, it said.No Indian leaders, politicians and mainland Indians spoke out against the reactions carried out against the innocent Kashmiris, it further said. However, when the matter finally reached Supreme Court and an order was released that Kashmiris should be protected, the government clarified that there is no war against Kashmiris, it said.The release further said that the recent backlash meted out against Kashmiris following the Pulwama incident has shown that mainland Indians including its leaders do not consider Kashmiris as Indians or have affection towards them. It has rather shown that Indians are racists, and they have affection only for the geographical area of Kashmir for the interest of larger Hindustan, it stated.In the year 1947, Kashmir was merged into India by the Hindu King, Hari Singh much against the wishes of the general public which consisted of Muslim majority, it said. Ever since then, the state had been facing endless turmoil and violence, it further said. Kashmir was recognised by United Nations on August 14, 1947, it further said adding more than one lakh Kashmiris have given their lives in its struggle to regain independence.However, India has not given any consideration to the political stand of the Kashmiris who are the stakeholders of the whole situation, regarding their wish to remain independent. Kashmiri people’s struggle for Independence escalated right after the murder of Burhan Wani, the 22 year old leader of Hijbul Mujahiddin by the Indian Army on July 8, 2016, it said. With the news of the death of Burhan Wani, thousands of protestors took to the streets breaking the curfew and pelted stones against Indian Army. To suppress the Kashmiri movement, Indian army started using pellet guns in the year 2010. With the use of pellet guns, out of the 1314 people injured by pellet guns from the year 2016 to April, 2018, 1253 person have lost their eyesight, it said. Many have been left disfigured. Among the wounded, they received injuries while staying at homes as bullets were fired into their houses from outside, it said.Considering the numbers of patients injured at the face and eyes, it has been known that they have been targeted not below their waist but on to their chests and faces, the release further informed. Resolutions have been also taken by the Amnesty International that India should also stop using pellet guns. As per a report by Amnesty International, for seven months after the death of Wani, around 6000 persons were injured by pellet guns. A 283 page report ‘Kashmir-Scars of Pellet Gun’ written by Human rights activist, Mannan Bukhari has informed that from 2010 to July 26 2016, 10 people have been killed by pellet guns while more than 1800 injured.

Rinku Khumukcham, Editor of Imphal Times has more than 15+ years in the field of Journalism. A seasoned editor, was a former editor of ISTV News. He resides in Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, with his wife and parents. Rinku can be contacted at [email protected]